Swab holder and swab therefor



May 21, 1929.

J. T. BERTHELOTE SWAB HOLDER AND SWAB THEREFOR Ill Filed Feb. 2o, lezs fffff 7 vlllllll/llll/l//I/l INVENTOR J 11B rheloe BY w 6 ATTORNEY V principle of Which is adaptable to Patented May El, w29.

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" ric@ swan Homann Linn swan 'rnnnnroa Application filed February 20, 1928. Serial No. 255,779.

This invention relates to improvements in swab holders and sWabs therefor, and it consists of the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide an implement intended to be used for a variety of cleansing purposes, this implement Vbeing primarily composed of a handle and a cleansing element which will be held in position partly by a quality ofl said element as Well as a certain resilient quality'of the handle.`

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement which is Well adapted to certain mouth cleansing purposes, but the cleansing purposes of other natures.

Other objects and advantages appear in the following specification reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure l is a perspective vieiv of the implement as it appears in the preferred embodiment of `a mouth cleanser,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the structure in Figure l,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the handle alone,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section illustrating both a modified form of handle `and applied cleansing element,

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-'5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line GMG of Figure ll,

Figure 7 is a cross section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 2, l

Figure 8 is a detail cross section illustrating a modification of the cleansing element,

Figures 9 to 13 inclusive are detail sectional views illustrating various forms of handle shanks,

Figure le is a detail perspective view of a sanitary container for the cleansing element.

Mention has been made in one of the foregoing brief statements of the objects of the invention that the implement is intended to be used for a variety of cleansing purposes. The primary cleansing purpose in mind is the adaptation and use of the implement as tooth brush. For that particular use the cleansing element is made so that a thorough lcleansing' action can be performed upon the teeth Without injuring the sensitive gums. Provision is also made so that any semblance of an unsanitary condition can be avoided by use of the implement.

lihe other Vuses to which the implement may be put are that of a handle or holder'for medical. sivabs substantially the same in form as the cleansing element herein disclosed, dus-ters, dish Washers, car Washers, etc. Such appliances will evidently be of basic tubular form so that an end of the handle may be inserted there into for the holding ofthe appliance by virtue of certain inherent resiliency of the handle.

Reference'is now made to the drawing in order that an understanding of the structure maybe had. rlhe handle l is of an exagjcrated ll sha-pe. The extensions s thereof are so designated for the purpose of distinction. The space 3 between the shanlrs of the handle comprises a passagewayfor a spreader l-, the passage available to the spreader terminating at the point 5 of constriction.

As shown in Figure 7 the spreader l has the shape of a spool. The body of the spreader occupies the passageway 3 While the heads or ends 6 lie beside the handle slianlrs along which the spreader is slidable by simply pushing itin the appropriate direction. When pushed toward the constriction 5 the handle shanlrs will be spread in order to separate the extensions 2 and thus serve to adequately hold the cleansing element.

The cleansing element 7 is of tubular shape in the present instance, closed at one end as at 8. Conceivable and permissible modifications suggest an element open at both ends. The structure thereof may be composed of a Woven, knit or other textile, or it may be made of some other suitable materia-l.

Extending from the cleansing element and comprising part thereof are the protrusions 9 which resemble the bristles of a tooth brush. These protrusions must have suiiicient invherent strength to accomplish the scouring or other action demanded of them. Ordinarily the material of the cleansing element will be of a yielding nature so that the exparisien of the `liztndle after insertion there` into may serve to hold the element taut by virtue of spreading the element.

in Figures 2, 3 and 5 extensions 2 are covered With caps l0 of a material softer than that of the handle.' An appropriate grade of rubber Will probablybe selected material.

lOpposite sides of the caps have interrupted surfaces vas at l1 in order to establish a more eHec-tive frictional hold upon the cleansing element. l One of the caps has 'a protruding horn 12 which has the effect of raising the adjacent part of the cleansing element as shown.

The horn offers the advantage of enabling the user to operate the element in otherwise inunderstood.

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accessible corners. `lWhile the horn has several advantages yet it may be omitted if desired. Y

Figure 4 illustratesV ciple in a slightly different manner. Here the roughened caps are omitted. Opposite surfaces of the extensions 2 are roughened orinterruptedat 13 for the same purpose of facilitating Athe holding qualities of vthe extensions upon the cleansing element 7. The extremity of one of the extensions isrbent up Vinto the shape of a horn 14.

It is intended? that the implement shall make it ,possible to manipulate the cleansing elementV in an absolutely clean manner. lt

may be of interestto here note that this de-V sirable advantage will be promoted by supplying each cleansing element 7 in an appropriate and sterile container 15 (Figure 14). This containerV will have a sealed cover 15. The containermay obviously be inade'of any suitable vprotecting material and maybe in the Ashape of a shell, tube, envelope, etc. Upon removal of the end (cover or the like) of the container the extensions 2 of the `handle are ,merely inserted into thecleansing element in order to take it up whereupon the cleansing elementis extracted from .the container without contamination in readiness ,for use.

The variety of the cross sectional shapes of the handle shanks may beutilized in pracbe better adaptable for both cleansing purposesfor that forni in which the protrusions appear on allsides.A Again referringtothe structuieof the handle and its resilient qualities it may be stated that the substanceof such' handle may be metal, celluloid, rubber, or any other material of rigid, semi-rigid or resilient nature. y i

The operation of the impl ement is readily have some resiliency so that when the extensions are left free they will naturally spread apart to some extent. If it is deemed inexpedient to; entertain this resilient quality backwardly from the point of constriction 5 it may be particularly confined to the forward extensions 2 which aremade tapering for that purpose.

entire handle so kthat a squeezeupon Vthe the foregoing prin-Y 'lhe'handle 1 is intended tol However,` in all probability, the resilient quality will extend throughout the andaJ reslease of the pressure will permit At ieni to spread apart.

Upon applying the cleansing element 7 as described inrconnection with' Figure 14 the spreader 4 is moved down toward the constriction 5 in order to hold the extensionsf in the spread 'condition and the cleansing element in tight engagement therewith. The

principle use of the implement isthat of a tooth cleaner, but the saine ideas may bekembodied in an implement Vfor other cleansing purposes a number o f which are mentioned at the beginning. Upon desiringto affix a fresh cleansing element a new container 15 is unstopped and the forked end ofthe handle inserted. The handle should be compressed prior to insertion into the element andthen released. rlhe outward extension of the Shanks grips theelement and holds it in firm position and under tension. The specific inode of use of the element need not be enlarged upon. ln order to employ what is regarded as general terminology the cleansing element may be known asa swab while the-handle may be known as a swab or cleansing element holder.

In conclusion, it may be pointed out that when the Vswab is used `as a mouth cleaner7 it may be considered desirable to market the implement with an impregnation of asuitable or desirablechemical. The use of other substances or compoundsmay become evident upon actually'introducing the invention to the public. Theswabs may be-impregnated with a dentifrice, or under other circumstances, they may be marketed Without such prior treatment, theultimate user exercising his own selection.

lVhile the construction and arrangement'of Vthe improved swab holder is thatof a generally preferred form obviously modifications other than those already suggested may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or scope of the claims. Y

I claim Y f Y f 1. An implement of the character describe Vcomprising a tubular cleansing element, and

a holder formed to provide a pair of ex tensions receiving the tubular element, said holder being of resilient material causing the y extensions to separate and thus sustain the element under tension, andcapsiitted upon the extensions being of ainaterialto prevent the element from slipping oli.V i 2. An implement of the chaiacterdescribed comprising a tubular cleansing element, and a Til holder formed to providea pairof extensions V receivingithe tubular el'ement, said holder being of resilient material causing the exten- Y sions to separate and thus sustain the element under tension, and caps itted upon the exten- I sions having interrupted surfaces to prevent the element from slipping olf.

3. An'implement of the character described comprising atubular cleansing element, and

shanks will bringthe extensions close together a holder formed to provide a pair of extensions receiving the tubular element, said holder being of resilient material causing the extensions to separate and thus sustain the element under tension, and caps iitted upon the extensions being of a material to prevent the element from slipping oli", one of the caps having a horn causing a part of the element to prot-rude.

4. An implement of the character described comprising a forked holder including handle Shanks and a horn on one shank, and a cleansing element iitted over a part ot' the handle Shanks and over t-he horn, said holder having a resilient quality causing the shanks to separate and thus sustain the element under tension.

5. An implement of the character described comprising a holder formed to deiine a pair of shanks Which merge with tapering extensions, the tapering of said extensions beginning at a point of constriction in the space between the Shanks, a cleansing element fitted upon the extensions down to a point of -constriction, and means movable in the space t0- ward the point of constriction and being engageable with the surfaces of the adjacent Shanks to spread the latter and the extensions thereby to hold the element in tension.

6. An implement of the character described comprising a tubular cleansing element of yieldable material, a holder shaped in U formation to provide a pair of Shanks having extensions insertable into the element, said holder being of resilient material tending to separate the extensions and hold the element in position under tension, and a spreader operable upon the holder between the shanks to hold said extensions in the spread condition.

7. An implement of the character described comprising a swab which includes a tubular body, a holder formed to produce a pair of Shanks which terminate inextensions Which are tapered to render them resilient said Shanks being insert'able into the tubular body up to the end of the tapering extensions, and a spreader operable upon the Shanks toward the extensions tending to separate them and thus hold the tubular body in position under tension.

Signed at Carlsbad in the county of San Diego and State of California. this 7th day of December, 1927.

JOSEPH T. BERTHELOTE.

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